What's in the Garbage Bag?

Posted by Emily Alfred408.50sc on May 28, 2014

Figuring out what to do with our garbage is a big decision, but there's a lot that we can do to reduce garbage in the first place.

Two-thirds (66%) to 89% of what Toronto households put out in their garbage bag could be recycled, composted or reused in Toronto's waste diversion programs. If you consider new and emerging recycling technology and markets, that number could go even higher!

The good news is that increasing diversion doesn't cost a lot: Toronto residents could be recycling and composting a lot more of their waste with simple education and outreach.

TEA's Waste Free Challenge is 10 simple actions that anyone can take to help get more of the recyclables out of the garbage bag. Take all 10 Challenges to reduce your waste and you might win a prize!

This goes to show that when we talk about what to do with our "garbage" we can't forget to talk about reducing our garbage - getting the recycling and compostables out of the garbage first. That's the cheapest and easiest way to deal with a rapidly-filling landfill! Read more about Toronto's Long Term Waste Management Strategy.

(TEA analysed data from City of Toronto residential waste audits from single family homes and multi-unit buildings performed in 2010 and 2011)

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TEA’s Waste Free challenge is a project of the Toronto Environmental Alliance. The project is funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation, an agency of the Government of Ontario. The challenge is sponsored by CUPE Local 416, the union representing Toronto City workers who collect, sort, recycle and compost Toronto's residential waste.